Message modifier responsive to meeting location availability

ABSTRACT

Processors are configured to analyze message text content to determine whether the text content proposes a meeting event at a specified location and a specified time. In response to determining that the text content proposes said meeting event, processors determine whether a meeting is possible at the specified location and the specified time as a function of forum availability. In response to determining that the meeting is possible, some processors generate a confirming appointment message comprising text content that identifies creation of a meeting event at the meeting place at the specified location and at the specified time. In response to determining that the meeting is not possible, processors create an alternative meeting proposal message that includes alternative text content, including an alternative, different location or an alternative, different time.

BACKGROUND

Meeting appointments are generated to satisfy a variety of boundaryconditions for participants, including appointment time, time span orrange of times available for participants to attend a meeting, day ordate, geographic location, forum availability, et cetera.Computer-implemented systems may provide assistance in automaticallyscheduling meetings. Some examples generate and present hypertextentries within the body of emails or other messages to represent datesand times found within text content, wherein selection of the hypertextentries by user triggers the creation of a calendar appointment or eventfor the user in a calendar application.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present invention, a computerized method forautomatically modifying message content in response to meeting locationavailability includes executing steps on a computer processor. Thus, acomputer processor analyzes text content within an input message todetermine whether the text content proposes a meeting event at aspecified location and a specified time. In response to determining thatthe text content proposes a meeting event at a specified location and aspecified time, the processor determines whether a meeting is possibleat the specified location and the specified time as a function of forumavailability. In response to determining that the meeting is possible atthe specified location and the specified time as a function of forumavailability, some processors generate a confirming appointment messagecomprising text content that identifies creation of a meeting event atthe meeting place at the specified location and at the specified time.In response to determining that the meeting is not possible at thespecified location and the specified time as a function of forumavailability, the processor creates an alternative meeting proposalmessage that includes alternative text content (for example, analternative location that is different from the specified location, oran alternative time that is different from the specified time).

In another aspect, a system has a hardware processor in circuitcommunication with a computer readable memory and a computer-readablestorage medium having program instructions stored thereon. The processorexecutes the program instructions stored on the computer-readablestorage medium via the computer readable memory and thereby analyzestext content within an input message to determine whether the textcontent proposes a meeting event at a specified location and a specifiedtime. In response to determining that the text content proposes ameeting event at a specified location and a specified time, theprocessor determines whether a meeting is possible at the specifiedlocation and the specified time as a function of forum availability. Inresponse to determining that the meeting is possible at the specifiedlocation and the specified time as a function of forum availability,some processors generate a confirming appointment message comprisingtext content that identifies creation of a meeting event at the meetingplace at the specified location and at the specified time. In responseto determining that the meeting is not possible at the specifiedlocation and the specified time as a function of forum availability, theprocessor creates an alternative meeting proposal message that includesalternative text content (for example, an alternative location that isdifferent from the specified location, or an alternative time that isdifferent from the specified time).

In another aspect, a computer program product for automaticallymodifying message content in response to meeting location availabilityhas a computer-readable storage medium with computer readable programcode embodied therewith. The computer readable hardware medium is not atransitory signal per se. The computer readable program code includesinstructions for execution which cause the processor to analyze textcontent within an input message to determine whether the text contentproposes a meeting event at a specified location and a specified time.In response to determining that the text content proposes a meetingevent at a specified location and a specified time, the processordetermines whether a meeting is possible at the specified location andthe specified time as a function of forum availability. In response todetermining that the meeting is possible at the specified location andthe specified time as a function of forum availability, some processorsgenerate a confirming appointment message comprising text content thatidentifies creation of a meeting event at the meeting place at thespecified location and at the specified time. In response to determiningthat the meeting is not possible at the specified location and thespecified time as a function of forum availability, the processorcreates an alternative meeting proposal message that includesalternative text content (for example, an alternative location that isdifferent from the specified location, or an alternative time that isdifferent from the specified time).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of embodiments of the present invention will bemore readily understood from the following detailed description of thevarious aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a cloud computing node according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a computerized aspect according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustration of an embodiment of the presentinvention that automatically modifies message content in response tomeeting location availability.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention that automatically modifies message content in response tomeeting location availability.

FIG. 6 depicts a network environment according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 comprises one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 1 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 2, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 1) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 2 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 61; RISC(Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62;servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks andnetworking components 66. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 67 and database software 68.

Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual privatenetworks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtualclients 75.

In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 84provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfillment 85 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of,cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipatedin accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtualclassroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94;transaction processing 95; and processing 96 for automatically modifyingmessage content in response to meeting location availability accordingto embodiments of the present invention, for example to execute theprocess steps or system components or tasks as depicted in FIG. 4 below.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of an example of a programmable deviceimplementation 10 according to an aspect of the present invention, whichmay function as a cloud computing node within the cloud computingenvironment of FIG. 2. Programmable device implementation 10 is only oneexample of a suitable implementation and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of theinvention described herein. Regardless, programmable deviceimplementation 10 is capable of being implemented and/or performing anyof the functionality set forth hereinabove.

A computer system/server 12 is operational with numerous other generalpurpose or special purpose computing system environments orconfigurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments,and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with computersystem/server 12 include, but are not limited to, personal computersystems, server computer systems, thin clients, thick clients, hand-heldor laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems,set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputer systems, mainframe computer systems, and distributed cloudcomputing environments that include any of the above systems or devices,and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

The computer system/server 12 is shown in the form of a general-purposecomputing device. The components of computer system/server 12 mayinclude, but are not limited to, one or more processors or processingunits 16, a system memory 28, and a bus 18 that couples various systemcomponents including system memory 28 to processor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output(I/O) interfaces 22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20communicates with the other components of computer system/server 12 viabus 18. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 12. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

FIG. 4 illustrates a process or system according to the presentinvention that automatically modifies message content in response tomeeting location availability. At 102, in response to an input of amessage 101 having text content that is generated by a sender (sometimesherein a “first user”) for transmission to a recipient of the message(some other, different, “second user” person), a processor that isconfigured according to an aspect of the present invention (the“configured processor”) analyzes the text content within the messageinput 101 to determine whether the text content proposes (suggests,requests, etc.) setting up a meeting event at a specified location andtime, which may include a meeting to be attended by the sender andrecipient. The configured processor may be implemented in accordancewith the computer system server 10 of FIG. 3, including as the cloudnode 10 of FIG. 1, as described respectively above.

In aspects of the present invention the configured processor mayfunction as a cognitive monitor that passively examines text content ofall message inputs from the sender to identify message body text contentconversation items that propose meetings at some specified location ortype of location, at some specified time or range of possible times.Some examples of the configured processor use natural languageclassification to detect, identify or otherwise distinguish messagesthat propose meetings with the recipient from other messages or messagecontent, and responsively initiate an extraction process to identifyspecified location and time components of the meeting proposals messagesor contents thereof.

If determined that the text content does not proposes setting up ameeting event at a specified location and time, then the present inquiryprocess ends at 103. Otherwise, at 104 the configured processordetermines whether the meeting is possible at the specified location atthe specified time as a function of forum availability. For example, theconfigured processor determines whether the specified time is withinbusiness days and hours of operation of a meeting facility, restaurant,movie theater, coffee shop or other assembly forum, and thereforewhether use of the forum as a meeting place at the location is possible;matches reservation times remaining and available at a restaurant forum,thereby determining whether a dining reservation meeting is possible atthe restaurant; matches or otherwise correlates the specified time withperformance times of movie showings, sporting events or concertperformances at a theater or other assembly forum, and further for whichadmission tickets are remaining and available for purchase, therebydetermining whether a proposed meeting to attend a performance at theforum is possible (enabled) by the ability of sender and recipient togain ticketed admission to the particular forum at the location; andstill others will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

At 108, in response to determining that a meeting is possible at thespecified location and time as a function of forum availability, theconfigured processor automatically generates a confirming appointmentmessage that identifies creation of the meeting event for the sender andrecipient at forum or meeting place identified at the specifiedlocation, at the specified time.

In response to determining that a meeting is not possible at thespecified location and time as a function of forum availability, at 110the configured processor automatically creates an alternative meetingproposal message that proposes a change in venue (meeting place orlocation) and/or time relative to the location and time specified in themeeting proposal message. For example, the configured processor maydetermine that a specified restaurant does not have reservationsavailable for the specified time, and in response propose one or morealternative times that are available, or an alternative restaurant thatdoes have reservations available for the specified time.

If the alternative message comprises a plurality of different,alternative times of location, at 112 the configured processor drives agraphic display to present the alternative message to a reviewer (thecreating sender or an indicated recipient of the message) for selectionof one of the alternative times or locations.

At 114 the configured processor drives a graphic display to present theconfirming message or the alternative message (as revised with locationor time field data populated in response to any selection by thereviewer at 112) to a reviewer (generally the originator or sender ofthe input message) for review and approval, and if approved sends theapproved message to the recipient as a message from the sender(originator of the input message) at 116.

Otherwise, if the reviewed message is not approved at 114, the processreturns to step 104 to repeat again determine if a meeting possible at acurrent specified location and time (including as selected or otherwiserevised by the reviewer at 112). Thus, alternative meeting locations andtimes may be iteratively generated as a function of forum availability,and reviewed and accepted or declined by the reviewer until the revieweris satisfied and the configured processor forwards the message to therecipient.

In some embodiments, the configured processor automatically sends theconfirming or alternative message to both sender and recipient at 116,omitting the conditional review and approval by the reviewer at 114.

Selecting and presenting alternative locations or times at 110 and 112may be in response to sender or recipient preferences. For example, theconfigured processor may select alternative times from a range ofhistorical dining reservation times accepted by the sender or recipient.Alternative locations may be selected from groups of alternatives thatshare type or category data with the specified location (for example,other theaters showings the same movie or type or genre of movie, otherrestaurants that serve a same type of cuisine, etc.). Alternative timesmay be generated as aggregations or sets of nearest (in time) availabletimes for the specified location.

FIG. 5 illustrates another, alternative embodiment of the presentinvention. In response to determining at 102 that an input message textcontent (101) proposes setting up a meeting event at a specifiedlocation and time, at 204 a configured processor attempts to purchaseadmission tickets or make a dining reservation for the specifiedlocation and time as a function of identifying the forum type and eventnature of the meeting proposal. For example, the configured processordetermines that the meeting proposal is a performance time of a movieshowing, sporting event or concert performance at a theater or otherassembly forum of the specified location, or is a dinner date at arestaurant at the specified location that accepts time-specificreservations. Accordingly, at 204 the configured processor automaticallyattempts to reserve a table at the restaurant or purchase a pair oftickets for the sender and recipient at the specified time. Ifsuccessful at 204, at 206 the configured processor generates aconfirming appointment message that identifies the tickets purchased orreservation made.

If the attempt to reserve a table at the restaurant or purchase a pairof tickets is not successful at 204 (including due to no availability),at 208 the configured processor identifies or determines possiblealternatives (change in venue and/or time relative to the location andtime specified in the meeting proposal message, as discussed above), andat 210 reserves a table at a restaurant or purchases tickets for one ofthe possible alternatives, including for one selected by a reviewingoriginator of the input message where multiple alternatives areidentified at 208, and generates an alternative message with textcontent identifying the alternative forum or times of the purchasedtickets or made reservation.

At 212 the configured processor drives a graphic display to present theconfirming message or the alternative message to a reviewer (generallythe originator or sender of the input message) for review and approval,and if approved sends the approved message to the recipient as a messagefrom the sender (originator of the input message) at 216.

Otherwise, if the reviewed message is not approved at 212, theconfigured processor cancels the ticket purchase or table reservation at214, and the process returns to step 204. Thus, alternative tablereservation or ticket purchases are iteratively executed andsubsequently cancelled until the reviewer is satisfied and theconfigured processor forwards the message to the recipient at 216.

Selecting and purchasing alternative performance tickets or makingalternative reservations may be in response to sender or recipientpreferences, for example from a range of historical dining reservationtimes accepted by the sender or recipient, theaters attended, moviegenres preferred, etc.

FIG. 6 illustrates a network environment wherein a smart phone of a useror other computing device 302 receives an input of user text messagefrom a user via a user interface. A first network server 304 incommunication with the computing device 302 via a network infrastructureor environment 306 receives the text message input from the device 302.The computing device 302 and first server 304 may include internal andexternal hardware components, as depicted and described in furtherdetail above with reference to FIG. 3. In some embodiments the networkinfrastructure or environment 306 is implemented in a cloud computingnetwork environment, for example the cloud computing network environment50 of FIG. 1 as described above.

An application executing on a processor (processing unit) 308 of thefirst server 304 is configured according to the present invention toanalyze text content within the input message to determine whether thetext content proposes a meeting event at a specified location and time,and make a call or query to a second network server 310 in communicationwith the first network server 304 via the network infrastructure 306 todetermine from databases stored in memory 312 thereon whether a proposedmeeting is possible at the specified location at the specified time as afunction of forum availability, for example via processes or methodsillustrated in FIG. 4 and described above. The configured processor 308thereby generates a confirming appointment message that identifiescreation of a meeting event at a forum identified at the specifiedlocation and time, or creates an alternative meeting proposal messageproposing a change in venue or time, and sends the messages to the smartphone 302 for display to the user on a display screen 303.

In some embodiments the configured processor 308 makes calls to thesecond server 310 to attempt to purchase admission tickets or makereservations for the specified location and time, or to identifiespossible alternatives in venue or time, for example via processes ormethods illustrated in FIG. 5 and described above.

Processors configured according to aspects of the present invention maydetermine meeting places, alternative showings and forums, etc., bymaking external calls to databases for available times for a particularlocation, which are compared to a specified time in an input messagefrom a user. Nearest times may be aggregated and displayed to a user forselection within a message application conversation platform. Over timeaspects may associate speech patterns with location data (for example,global positioning satellite (GPS) data) to provide accurateidentifications and classifications of potential meeting times andlocations, as well as to provide initial data for use in generatingconfirming or alternative messages.

Coordinating meeting times may be difficult in prior art systems andmethods. Difficulties in verifying or ensuring that a recipient ofmessage proposing a meeting is available at a desired time, or that aproposed meeting place is available, may require the exchange ofmultiple messages. Mistakes, miscommunications or misunderstandings frommessage to message may result incorrect or inappropriate time orlocation arrangements. In contrast, aspects of the present invention usecognitive processing to make sure that the meeting times and locationsare available, to thereby ensure that the meeting outputs are relevantand correct.

For example, consider an organizer desiring to make a reservation fortwo at 5p.m. at a certain restaurant to celebrate an occasion withanother person. Under the prior art the organizer must exchange a seriesof different messages with the other person to convey his or herintention (to celebrate the event at the restaurant at 5 p.m.); toverify with the other person that the proposed time is good; to checkthrough another message exchange with the restaurant, or by using arestaurant reservation request application, to see if the reservation ispossible at that time, and to make a reservation at the desired or otheravailable time, or at another restaurant that has availability at thedesired time. If a restaurant is popular it may provide limitedreservation capacity, and thus likely for the requested time to beunavailable. If the organizer is forced to choose another time, oranother restaurant for the desired time, then the organizer must engagein another messaging exchange with the other person to confirm that theycan meet at the revised time, or at a revised location, relative to theprevious message exchange.

In contrast, aspects of the present invention may passively monitor theorganizer's message text content to identify such appointment proposalsand automatically, and prior to sending the proposal message to theother person, determine proposed times and locations from the messagecontent, determine whether the time/location pairing can be achieved,and if yes, updates the text content to indicate that the meeting orappointment is set, and if not, provide the organizer with a list ofpossible alternatives.

Thus, in one example a first user (sender) generates the following textmessage to send to their spouse (recipient): “let's book a reservationat Beasley's tonight 5 pm.” A processor configured by an aspect of thepresent invention analyzes the text content of the message to determinerecognize that the text content phrase “lets book a reservation” is ameeting proposal for the sender and recipient; that the text contentprovides a specified day and time (“tonight 5 pm”) at a specifiedlocation (identified as text content following the word “at,” andwherein searching user histories and database resources determining that“Beasley's” is the name of restaurant having a certain street addresslocation.

In response to determining that Beasley's is a restaurant, prior tosending the message to the recipient, the configured processordynamically initiates actions to attempt to make reservations for atable for two at Beasley's at the specified day and time. It will beapparent that the size of the reservation may be established by thetotal number of message sender and recipients, so that a group text toadditional recipients will increment the party number used to secure thereservation, or to otherwise determine the availability.

Thus, in response to determining that a reservation is available at thespecified time and location, the configured processor dynamicallychanges the message text content from the sender to “I bookedreservations at Beasley's tonight 5 pm,” prior to sending the message tothe recipient, thereby notifying both sender and recipient of theavailability of the proposed meeting location and time. The configuredprocessor may also allow for the sender to review the changed text priorto sending to the recipient.

Otherwise, in response to determining that the reservations are notavailable at the specified time and location, the configured processordynamically changes the message text content from the sender to “Ibooked reservations at Beasley's for (6 pm) (7 pm) tonight,” therebydisplaying two other possible times that differ from the specified timebut wherein the meeting place is available for the sender and recipientto meet for dinner. This may be displayed to the sender as originator ofthe message to choose one of the alternate times prior to sending to therecipient, wherein the configured processor again revises the textcontent to indicate the chosen time prior to sending to the recipient;or it may be sent to the recipient, allowing the recipient to make thechoice between the alternative times.

The configured processor may also look for alternate locations that cansupport the same or similar proposed meeting at the specified time. Forexample, in response to determining that “Beasly's” is not available at5 pm, or at 6 pm or 7 pm or any other alternative time indicated aswithin an acceptable range of time (by user preferences or dininghistory) the configured processor may search for availability at thespecified time (or within a permissible range of the specified time) atother restaurants that have acceptable ratings, similar cuisine,historical dining experiences, etc.

The configured processor may automatically make the restaurantreservation on behalf of the originator and recipient, including whileconfirming availability (such as through a reservation bookingapplication), and then subsequently cancelling the reservation if therecipient or originator fail to approve or confirm the reservation, orit may make the reservation in response to confirmation from theoriginator or recipient.

In another example an originator/sender generates a text message to afriend with the following text content: “let's meet at the Westdale Mallat 10 am.” The configured processor monitor determines that the textcontent proposes a meeting time for today (defaulting to a current dayif no other day or date is indicated) at 10 am at the location of the“Westdale Mall.” The configured processor identifies the “Westdale Mall”as business name and dynamically retrieves the operating hours for thebusiness. In response to determining that the proposed time falls withinthe business operating hours (thus, that is open and available for useas a meeting forum) the text content of the message is forwardedunchanged to the recipient. Otherwise, in response to determining thatthe proposed time falls outside of the business operating hours, as themall does not open until 12 pm, the configured processor dynamicallychanges the message text content to “let's meet at the Westdale Mall at12 pm,” and notifies the originator of the change for confirmation thatthe revised time is acceptable to the originator prior to sending therevised message to the recipient.

In another example an originator/sender generates a text message to afriend to suggest seeing a move together, with the following textcontent: “let's go catch The Huntsman: Winter's War at Richmond-AMCtonight at 8 pm.” Prior to delivering the message, the configuredprocessor determines, as a function of the context of the remaining textcontent, that that the phrase “let's go catch” conveys a proposal to seea movie entitled “The Huntsman: Winter's War” at a movie theateruniquely identified as the “Richmond AMC.” In response, the configuredprocessor dynamically retrieves showing hours and seat availability forshowings at the “Richmond AMC” movie theater of all movies matching thetitle terms “The Huntsman: Winter's War.” In response to determiningthat tickets are available for the proposed showing, the configuredprocessor changes the text content to “I made reservations to watch TheHuntsman: Winter's War at AMC tonight at 8 pm,” wherein the configuredprocessor may present the changed text to the originator to therebynotify the originator that tickets are available, and to otherwisereview and approve the changed text prior to delivery to the recipient.Otherwise, in response to determining that tickets are not available forthe proposed showing, the configured processor changes the text contentto “let's go watch The Huntsman: Winter's War at AMC tonight at 11 pm,”and displays said revised text to the originator, thereby notifying theoriginator that tickets are not available at the desired time but thatthey are available at the later time, and also enabling the originatorto approve the later time selection prior to delivery to the recipient.

The configured processor may also consider traffic, weather, traveldistances from originator and recipient locations and other factors indetermining whether the sender or recipient may probably arrive at thespecified location at the specified time, or in determining possiblealternative times. For example, in response to determining that aprojected travel time for the originator or recipient to the meetingplace from their place of employment exceeds a difference in time fromthe end of their work day to the specified meeting time, including as afunction of current or projected traffic or weather conditions, theconfigured processor changes the input message text content to proposeone or more alternative times that enable said originator or recipientto arrive timely at the proposed meeting place.

The terminology used herein is for describing particular aspects onlyand is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willbe further understood that the terms “include” and “including” when usedin this specification specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Certainexamples and elements described in the present specification, includingin the claims and as illustrated in the figures, may be distinguished orotherwise identified from others by unique adjectives (e.g. a “first”element distinguished from another “second” or “third” of a plurality ofelements, a “primary” distinguished from a “secondary” one or “another”item, etc.) Such identifying adjectives are generally used to reduceconfusion or uncertainty, and are not to be construed to limit theclaims to any specific illustrated element or embodiment, or to implyany precedence, ordering or ranking of any claim elements, limitationsor process steps.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for automaticallymodifying message content in response to meeting location availability,comprising executing on a computer processor the steps of: in responseto determining that text content within an input message proposes ameeting event at a specified location and a specified time, determiningwhether a meeting is possible at the specified location and thespecified time as a function of forum availability; in response todetermining that the meeting is not is possible at the specifiedlocation and the specified time as a function of forum availability,creating an alternative meeting proposal message comprising alternativetext content that that is selected from the group consisting of analternative location that is different from the specified location andan alternative time that is different from the specified time; inresponse to creating the alternative meeting proposal message, sendingthe alternative meeting proposal message to a reviewer for approval ofthe alternative text content, wherein the reviewer is selected from thegroup consisting of an originating sender of the input message and anindicated recipient of the input message; and in response to an approvalby the reviewer of the alternative text content, generating thealternative meeting proposal message to comprise text content thatidentifies creation of a meeting event at a meeting place at a specifiedlocation and at a specified time of the alternative text content.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the meetingis possible at the specified location and the specified time as afunction of forum availability is selected from the group consisting ofdetermining whether the specified time is within business days and hoursof operation of the meeting place, matching the specified time toreservation times available at a restaurant meeting place, andcorrelating the specified time to a performance time of an event forwhich an admission ticket is available for purchase.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: analyzing the text content within the inputmessage to determine whether the text content proposes the meeting eventat the specified location and the specified time; and in response todetermining that the meeting is possible at the specified location andthe specified time as a function of forum availability, generating aconfirming appointment message comprising text content that identifiescreation of a meeting event at a meeting place at the specified locationand at the specified time.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:automatically reserving a meeting place at a time indicated by textcontent of a generated one of the alternative meeting proposal messageand the confirming appointment message, wherein the step of reservingthe meeting place is selected from the group consisting of reserving atable at a restaurant and purchasing an admittance ticket for an event.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether themeeting place at the specified location has availability as a functionof the specified time further comprises: determining a projected traveltime for a travelling one of the originating sender and the indicatedrecipient to travel to the specified location from a current location;and in response to determining that the projected travel time exceeds anelapsed time from a projected departure time to the specified time,selecting the alternative time for the alternative text content so thatthe projected travel time does not exceed an elapsed time from theprojected departure time to the selected the alternative time.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising: determining the projected traveltime as a function of a travel condition selected from the groupconsisting of traffic and weather conditions.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising: integrating computer-readable program code into acomputer system comprising a processor, a computer readable memory incircuit communication with the processor, and a computer readablestorage medium in circuit communication with the processor; and whereinthe processor executes program code instructions stored on thecomputer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory andthereby performs the steps of determining whether a meeting is possibleat the specified location and the specified time as a function of forumavailability in response to determining that the text content proposes ameeting event at a specified location and a specified time, creating analternative meeting proposal message comprising alternative text contentthat that is selected from the group consisting of an alternativelocation that is different from the specified location and analternative time that is different from the specified time, sending thealternative meeting proposal message to the reviewer for approval of thealternative text content, and generating the alternative meetingproposal message to comprise the text content that identifies creationof the meeting event at the meeting place at the specified location andat the specified time of the alternative text content.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the computer-readable program code is provided as aservice in a cloud environment.
 9. A system, comprising: a processor; acomputer readable memory in circuit communication with the processor;and a computer readable storage medium in circuit communication with theprocessor; wherein the processor executes program instructions stored onthe computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memoryand thereby: in response to determining that text content within aninput message proposes a meeting event at a specified location and aspecified time, determines whether a meeting is possible at thespecified location and the specified time as a function of forumavailability; in response to determining that the meeting is notpossible at the specified location and the specified time as a functionof forum availability, creates an alternative meeting proposal messagecomprising alternative text content that that is selected from the groupconsisting of an alternative location that is different from thespecified location and an alternative time that is different from thespecified time; in response to creating the alternative meeting proposalmessage, sends the alternative meeting proposal message to a reviewerfor approval of the alternative text content, wherein the reviewer isselected from the group consisting of an originating sender of the inputmessage and an indicated recipient of the input message; and in responseto an approval by the reviewer of the alternative text content,generates the alternative meeting proposal message to comprise textcontent that identifies creation of a meeting event at a meeting placeat a specified location and at a specified time of the alternative textcontent.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor executes theprogram instructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium viathe computer readable memory and thereby determines whether the meetingis possible at the specified location and the specified time as afunction of forum availability in a process selected from the groupconsisting of determining whether the specified time is within businessdays and hours of operation of the meeting place, matching the specifiedtime to reservation times available at a restaurant meeting place, andcorrelating the specified time to a performance time of an event forwhich an admission ticket is available for purchase.
 11. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the processor executes the program instructions storedon the computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memoryand thereby: analyzes the text content within the input message todetermine whether the text content proposes the meeting event at thespecified location and the specified time; and in response todetermining that the meeting is possible at the specified location andthe specified time as a function of forum availability, generates aconfirming appointment message comprising text content that identifiescreation of a meeting event at a meeting place at the specified locationand at the specified time.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein theprocessor executes the program instructions stored on thecomputer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory andthereby further: automatically reserves a meeting place at a timeindicated by text content of a generated one of the alternative meetingproposal message and the confirming appointment message, wherein thestep of reserving the meeting place is selected from the groupconsisting of reserving a table at a restaurant and purchasing anadmittance ticket for an event.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein theprocessor executes the program instructions stored on thecomputer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory andthereby determines whether the meeting place at the specified locationhas availability as a function of the specified time further by:determining a projected travel time for a one of the originating senderand the indicated recipient to travel to the specified location from acurrent location; and in response to determining that the projectedtravel time exceeds an elapsed time from a projected departure time tothe specified time, selecting the alternative time for the alternativetext content so that the projected travel time does not exceed anelapsed time from the projected departure time to the selected thealternative time.
 14. A computer program product for automaticallymodifying message content in response to meeting location availability,the computer program product comprising: a computer readable storagemedium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, thecomputer readable program code comprising instructions for execution bya processor that cause the processor to: in response to determining thattext content within an input message proposes a meeting event at aspecified location and a specified time, determine whether a meeting ispossible at the specified location and the specified time as a functionof forum availability; in response to determining that the meeting isnot possible at the specified location and the specified time as afunction of forum availability, create an alternative meeting proposalmessage comprising alternative text content that that is selected fromthe group consisting of an alternative location that is different fromthe specified location and an alternative time that is different fromthe specified time; in response to creating the alternative meetingproposal message, send the alternative meeting proposal message to areviewer for approval of the alternative text content, wherein thereviewer is selected from the group consisting of an originating senderof the input message and an indicated recipient of the input message;and in response to an approval by the reviewer of the alternative textcontent, generate the alternative meeting proposal message to comprisetext content that identifies creation of a meeting event at a meetingplace at a specified location and at a specified time of the alternativetext content.
 15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein thecomputer readable program code instructions for execution by theprocessor further cause the processor to determine whether the meetingis possible at the specified location and the specified time as afunction of forum availability in a process selected from the groupconsisting of determining whether the specified time is within businessdays and hours of operation of the meeting place, matching the specifiedtime to reservation times available at a restaurant meeting place, andcorrelating the specified time to a performance time of an event forwhich an admission ticket is available for purchase.
 16. The computerprogram product of claim 14, wherein the computer readable program codeinstructions for execution by the processor further cause the processorto: analyze the text content within the input message to determinewhether the text content proposes the meeting event at the specifiedlocation and the specified time; and in response to determining that themeeting is possible at the specified location and the specified time asa function of forum availability, generate a confirming appointmentmessage comprising text content that identifies creation of a meetingevent at a meeting place at the specified location and at the specifiedtime.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computerreadable program code instructions for execution by the processorfurther cause the processor to: automatically reserve a meeting place ata time indicated by text content of a generated one of the alternativemeeting proposal message and the confirming appointment message, whereinthe step of reserving the meeting place is selected from the groupconsisting of reserving a table at a restaurant and purchasing anadmittance ticket for an event.